Six: Lieutenant-Colonel M. R. A. Wyatt-Edgell, Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry, later Devonshire...

Six: Lieutenant-Colonel M. R. A. Wyatt-Edgell, Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry, later Devonshire Regiment Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (Lieut. M. R. A. Wyatt-Edgell. Imp. Yeo.); 1914-15 Star (Major M. R. A. Wyatt-Edgell. R. 1/Devon Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. M. R. A. Wyatt-Edgell); Defence Medal; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Merrick R. A. Wyatt-Edgell) mounted as worn, light contact marks, generally good very fine (6) £700-£900 --- Merrick Richard Arthur Wyatt-Edgell was born in Lympstone, Devon in 1872 and was educated at Eton and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Residing at the family country home Cowley House, near Exeter, he was commissioned as a Gentleman Second Lieutenant in the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry Cavalry on 9 July 1892. Promoted Lieutenant in 1896 he volunteered for service during the Boer War with the 11th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry and was severely wounded near Bothasberg receiving a large bullet wound in the thigh on 12 July 1901, returning home in November 1901. Promoted to Captain in April 1902 he successfully attended various course in the following years. Appointed Major (Honorary Lieutenant in the Army) in the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry on the formation of the Territorial Army April 1908, he was mobilised as Officer Commanding ‘A’ Squadron Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry on 4 August 1914 and as Second-in-Command he embarked in H.M. Transport Olympic at Liverpool for Gallipoli on 24 September 1915, and landed with his regiment at Suvla Bay 8 October 1915. Following the medical evacuation of the Commanding Officer, Wyatt-Edgell assumed command of the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry on 5 December 1915 and organised their withdrawal from Gallipoli, disembarking at Alexandria on 30 December 1915. Appointed temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 7 January 1916, the Regiment took over duties in the Canal Zone. On 21 December 1916 the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry and the Royal North Devon Hussars formed the 16th Battalion Devonshire Regiment, resulting in him relinquishing his temporary rank and being posted home to attend the Senior Officers School at Aldershot. Posted in the rank of Major to the 8th Battalion Devonshire Regiment at Polygon Wood in September 1917 he was present during their action at Gheluvelt on the Ypres Salient 26 October 1917. Subsequently entraining with his battalion for Italy on 18 November 1917 he was next present during their action on the Asiago Plateau and the successful crossing of the Piave River 26/27 October 1918. Disembarking at Folkestone on 28 February 1919 he was disembodied from the Territorial Force on 1 March 1919. Having attained the age limit, Wyatt-Edgell was retired from the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 3 August 1927 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, having served 35 years and 25 days. In retirement, and still living in the family home Cowley House, he held many local voluntary appointments including being a member of the Exeter Special Constabulary. During the Second World War he was Chairman of the Defence Committee for his area. He died at St David’s Nursing Home, Exeter on 28 October 1945, aged 73. Sold with copied service record and other research. For the medals awarded to the recipient’s brother, see the following lot, Lot 159.